Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey: "Today (Friday) we honor the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for us, and the values and ideals we hold most dear as citizens of the United States of America. Today we celebrate our freedoms—which we would not have without the courageous men and women of our armed forces who have endured the perils of war to protect us.
“From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli, from the Aztec Shore to the Arctic Zone, to counting the brave and counting the true, to climbing high into the sun and sails set to the sky—our marines, Coast Guardsmen, soldiers, airmen and sailors answered the call of duty, day after day, generation after generation without expectation of praise. Every single one of them knowingly risked their lives to preserve our liberties and defend our values.
“Arizona is home to 600,000 military veterans. Today we thank them, and their families, for their sense of duty and for their patriotism, which has never wavered, in times of great sacrifice. Your state, and your country, is forever in your debt. Thank you for your service.”